House OKs bill on El Paso County dairy farms

AUSTIN -- A bill intended to help bring dairy farming back to El Paso County has cleared the Texas House.

The state bought out the county's dairy farmers 10 years ago over fears that bovine tuberculosis had taken hold and was spreading.

The bill that passed the House on Friday is sponsored by state Rep. Mary Gonzalez, D-El Paso.

Her Lower Valley district was the site of many of the former dairy farms.

The bill would instruct the Texas Animal Health Commission to conduct a study in the area where dairy farming was prohibited to determine whether bovine tuberculosis is present and report its results by Sept. 1, 2014.

If none is found, the finding could clear the way for resumption of El Paso County's dairy industry, which at its height generated $40 million a year and employed hundreds.

"This legislation takes into account new policies and updated technologies to make sure we have the most accurate information to determine that dairy farms are safe in El Paso County," Gonzalez said in a statement.

A legislative analysis of the bill says that since the ban, it has never conclusively been shown what caused the bovine tuberculosis that was found in El Paso County.

The bill now must be passed by the Texas Senate. Gonzalez said it has some high-level support -- that of Gov. Rick Perry.

Marty Schladen may be reached at mschladen@elpasotimes.com; 512-479-6606.